Booker T. Washington Tour Opening

This November, the McKinney Center will launch a tour of the historic Booker T. Washington School building. Tours will kick off on Friday, November 14th, at 2:00pm, 4:00pm, and 6:00pm. Tours are free to the public and will be approximately 20 minutes long. This event will take place at the McKinney Center at 103 Franklin Avenue, Jonesborough, TN. Light refreshments will be provided. Those interested in Jonesborough’s history are invited to come to learn more about the significance of Booker T. Washington School.

Booker T. Washington School was an institution for Black children, grades 1-8, from 1940-1965, when schools were integrated. The building served children from Washington County and surrounding areas, including Limestone and Telford. After integration, the school was closed and the building fell into disrepair. The Town of Jonesborough later renovated the building and in 2013, the McKinney Center was opened.

Tours will cover the history of education in Jonesborough, daily life at school, and the integration movement. We will also cover more iconic moments at Booker T., such as Miss Brown’s “End of the Year” program where every student was given a chance to shine. For students at Booker T. Washington School, the building served as more than an educational institution. Many alumni recall the space being a second home. The McKinney Center aims to preserve the history of Booker T. Washington School and the firsthand accounts told by its alumni.

Tours will be open to the public on Friday, November 14th at 2:00pm, 4:00pm, and 6:00pm. After November 14th, tours can be scheduled by calling the front desk at (423) 753-0562.